labour

The results of the local elections held on Thursday 22 May were fantastic for Labour in Hall Green and resulted in a third Labour councillor. Kerry Jenkins, being elected to represent the residents of Hall Green.

Q&A with our candidate on 22 May 2014 – Kerry Jenkins

I have lived in Hall Green District since I was a child but moved into the Ward around 26 years ago.

Tell us something about your personal circumstances. Are you married and have kids?

Yes I’m married to a chef! I have four kids ranging from 13 to 31. I am also lucky enough to have 6 grandchildren.

You are qualified as a Social Worker and have worked in the Youth Work related sector for many years. Why and what interested you in that field?

I returned to education as a mature student to undertake my degree in 1990. At that time I had three kids and the youngest was four. I have always been passionate about challenging inequality and believe that young people have a right to participate in decisions that affect them; that their voices should be heard and that they should be supported to campaign on issues they believe in.

Why do you love living in Hall Green?

I think we are very lucky to live in such a great Ward. We have great schools, a diverse community, good local small businesses and good transport links. And the trees! What isn’t there to love?

When did you think that you could represent your fellow citizens as a councillor in the biggest council in Europe?

It’s something I have been thinking about for some time but I only really got active in my local party about two and a half years ago. I believe that local government can only be as vibrant, effective and relevant as the people who are elected to run it. Councils made up of diverse individuals make better informed decisions and better represent their communities. I think I can add to this diversity, bringing my broad range of skills, life experience and knowledge as a councillor both within the bigger council and on a local level.

Why did you think that Labour was a place that would make you feel at home?

There was no other party in the running…I believe that Labour is the only political party that truly represents the interests of ordinary people, a party of social justice and one that believes in strong community and strong values.

What are your hobbies and interests outside all of this campaigning?

I try to keep fit and enjoy spin classes and yoga. I don’t get a lot of spare time but I like to read and am contemplating having a go at patchwork. Watch this space…

Are you a dog or cat person?

Impossible choice as I have one of each.

Do you think that community organisations play an important part in Hall Green?

Most definitely. I was instrumental in setting up WeAreB28 as I recognised that there was a need for a cohesive approach to signposting and promoting the fantastic work done by many organisations across Hall Green. For many, a lack of accessible resources such as a web presence had resulted in the services being provided remaining hidden from much of the community that they were being provided for. Through WeAreB28 we have been able to act as an umbrella organisation for these organisations and have provided a diverse range of resources and events that have brought together many different parts of our community.

What keeps you awake at night?

The terrible plight of so many living in poverty. My own children, with children of their own are feeling the pressure of rising energy bills, rising food costs coupled with a cut in benefits and child tax credits. The growing inequality of the society we live in is being perpetuated by the ideological attack on those most in need by our current government.

Do you think that the Labour pledges for 2015 have a place in Hall Green?

Most definitely. I applaud Labour’s commitment to help ordinary people in contrast to helping those living in extreme wealth. Labour’s pledge to get rid of the disgraceful bedroom tax, the increases in free child care, the freeze in energy bills and the cuts to business rates will help all sectors of our community.

If you had a magic wand what would you do for Hall Green?

Hard question but I would want to ensure that the essential services for young and old were sufficiently resourced, that our assets were restored to their original beauty and that all living in Hall Green felt part of a real community.

Why should we trust you to deliver what the people of Hall Green want ?

The only way to know what people want is by getting out and talking to people and this is what I have been doing for the past 18 months. Listening to the views of residents is the only way to really identify the needs. This I have done through my campaigning work, through my street stalls and through speaking to people on the doorstep. I believe that if we work together as a community we can achieve great things. This is my community and I will work hard to seek additional resources as well as protecting the services we have.

With his speech last week, Ed Miliband began to even out what for far too long has been a lop-sided debate on Europe, and in my opinion demonstrated a sight more leadership and insight than David Cameron in taking a credible and principled position on the subject. Click here for more…

Under Ed Miliband your gas and electricity bills will be frozen until 2017. Saving 27 million households and 2.4 million businesses money. Ed shares why he’d put the interests of consumers before energy companies: http://bit.ly/162o0U7

Kerry Jenkins, Hall Green’s Labour Candidate for 2014 said:

“Under David Cameron, Britain’s families are facing a cost of living crisis. Prices have risen faster than wages in 38 of the 39 months that David Cameron has been in Downing Street and energy bills have gone up by almost £300. David Cameron only stands up for the privileged few. His failure to tackle rip-off bills has meant that many people in Hall Green are struggling to pay their bills.

“Ed Miliband says Labour will freeze prices until the start of 2017 if Labour wins the next election. This will save a typical household £120 a year and this will be a huge help for many who are facing a cost of living crisis. I welcome this pledge but the reality is that people round here need help now so I’m calling on David Cameron to freeze our bills now.”

“For that to happen, we need as many people as possible to support this campaign, sign the petition and get involved. We will be launching this campaign on Saturday 9th November and you can visit us outside the Co-Op on the Stratford Road, B28 8AS between 10 and 12.”

This morning I wrote to our MP, Roger Godsiff expressing my concerns with regard to Cameron’s apparent ‘need for speed’ to enter into military intervention in Syria.

If chemical weapons have been used then those responsible must be must be dealt with in an international court. It is imperative that Western intervention must not be the reactive response that Cameron was suggesting. This ‘we must do something response’ that results in purely reactive action, will ultimately be ill thought out. This lesson should have already been learnt with the Iraq war and the heavy price paid.

Intervention yes, but not military intervention. Action needs to be taken into working towards and ensuring the success of a UN-brokered peace process involving all the local and regional players. This is the only solution and this can only come after the inspectors have been in and reported on all of the facts.

I am sure that many of you share my concerns which I have asked Roger to take forward to the debate tomorrow. I also asked him to vote against any calls for immediate military intervention. For the Syrian people their situation will only get worse as their nightmare continues. There are never any real winners in war.

Without Labour’s support, and the support of many of his backbenchers and Lib Dem’s, Cameron’s plans for military action will have been defeated in the Commons tomorrow. This means that tomorrow’s vote in the House of Commons will no longer be about authorising the use of British military force following the amendment put forward by Labour:

This House expresses its revulsion at the killing of hundreds of civilians in Ghutah, Syria on 21 August 2013; believes that this was a moral outrage; recalls the importance of upholding the worldwide prohibition on the use of chemical weapons; makes clear that the use of chemical weapons is a grave breach of international law; agrees with the UN Secretary General that the UN weapons inspectors must be able to report to the UN Security Council and that the Security Council must live up to its responsibilities to protect civilians; supports steps to provide humanitarian protection to the people of Syria but will only support military action involving UK forces if and when the following conditions have been met:

The UN weapons inspectors, upon the conclusion of their mission in the Eastern Ghutah, being given the necessary opportunity to make a report to the Security Council on the evidence and their findings, and confirmation by them that chemical weapons have been used in Syria;

The production of compelling evidence that the Syrian regime was responsible for the use of these weapons;

The UN Security Council having considered and voted on this matter in the light of the reports of the weapons inspectors and the evidence submitted;

There being a clear legal basis in international law for taking collective military action to protect the Syrian people on humanitarian grounds;

That such action must have regard to the potential consequences in the region, and must therefore be legal, proportionate, time-limited and have precise and achievable objectives designed to deter the future use of prohibited chemical weapons in Syria; aan

That the Prime Minister reports further to the House on the achievement of these conditions so that the House can vote on UK participation in such action.

This House further notes that such action relates solely to efforts to deter the use of chemical weapons and does not sanction any wider action in Syria.

The Hall Green team, aided by colleagues from Moseley and Kings Heath, our two councillors and your candidate for 2014, were out in force last Saturday. The team knocked doors in Blythsford Road, Sandgate Road and Newborough Road and talked to residents about local issues and local politics!

We also delivered our latest leaflet so if you weren’t in when we knocked your door, and you would like to speak to us about an issue in your area, or would like more information about Labour in Hall Green, you can find the contact details of our candidate Kerry Jenkins on the leaflet as well as details of our two councillors.